顔
顔·face
- On-yomi
- ガン
- Kun-yomi
- かお
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 顔 | かお | face |
| 洗顔 | せんがん | washing one's face |
| 顔色 | かおいろ | complexion, look on one's face |
| 笑顔 | えがお | smile, smiling face |
Example sentences
朝起きてすぐ顔を洗った。
あさおきてすぐかおをあらった。
I washed my face as soon as I got up.
今日は顔色が悪いですね。大丈夫ですか。
きょうはかおいろがわるいですね。だいじょうぶですか。
You look pale today. Are you all right?
彼女はいつも笑顔で挨拶してくれる。
かのじょはいつもえがおであいさつしてくれる。
She always greets me with a smile.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 笑顔 as しょうがお — it is えがお
- Reading 顔色 as がんしょく in everyday speech, where かおいろ is normal
Memory aid
Picture it
頁 on the right is the 'head' element — every kanji that carries it is about the head, and this one is the front of it.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 顔を出すかおをだすto show up, to drop by
- 顔が広いかおがひろいto know many people, to be well connected
- 笑顔えがおsmiling face, smile
- 顔かおface
- 顔が利くかおがきくto have influence; to have pull (with people)
- 顔に出るかおにでるto show on one's face (feelings)
- 顔に泥を塗るかおにどろをぬるto disgrace someone
- 顔を立てるかおをたてるto save someone's face
- 顔から火が出るかおからひがでるto blush with shame
- 厚顔無恥こうがんむちshameless, brazen
- 顔付きかおつき(outward) looks; features; the look on one's face; countenance
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 顔 mean?